A magistrate who complained that she was crushed by a court room lift has lost a claim for damages.

Moira James, who was suing Middlesbrough Council and Otis Lifts, told Teesside County Court how she had walked into the lift at Hartlepool Magistrates Court when the doors closed crushing her with "tremendous force".

The court heard how Mrs James tore ligaments in her hand and shoulder as she tried to free herself.

"I started to walk in and the doors closed on me. At first I thought they would release as soon as they'd touched me but it closed on me," she said.

"The force was tremendous and very painful, it was crushing me."

She told how she used the lift regularly and had never experienced any problems with it until that day in February 2000.

Ian White, a Crown prosecutor working at the court at the time, was inside the lift when the incident happened.

"There was nothing hurried about her movements. What I saw was the doors opened, the lady stepped forward and they closed on her, it was obvious that she was very distressed."

Middlesbrough Council and Otis Lifts both denied liability and giving evidence for both defendants, lift inspector Norman Cowell told the court there was "nothing wrong with the lift" when it was inspected three months prior to the incident.

"The lift had been inspected in November 1999 and wasn't due another inspection until May 2000," said Mr Cowell.

"They are tested to make sure that the closing pressure is not exceeded - particularly to prevent crushing.

"There were no problems with the lift at the time of that inspection."